Karnataka can't buy or produce electricity

If the power situation appears bad, then the worst could come in a fortnight. Karnataka is sitting on a time bomb: power unavailable in the market, water levels dropping at hydroelectric reservoirs, and thermal power stations dogged by frequent technical snags.Manu Aiyappa | TNN | Updated: October 20, 2015, 07:00 IST

imported coal.BENGALURU: If the power situation appears bad, then the worst could come in a fortnight. Karnataka is sitting on a time bomb: power unavailable in the market, water levels dropping at hydroelectric reservoirs, and thermal power stations dogged by frequent technical snags.

Energy minister DK Shivakumar failed to meet Union power minister Piyush Goyal despite camping in New Delhi for the past three days. He wanted to seek his intervention to prevail upon Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa to allow private producers in her state to sell power to Karnataka.

"I've sought an appointment again next week. Hopefully, I will meet him this time. I'll give good news soon," Shivakumar said.

Having failed to get any response from the north, Karnataka will soon invite tenders to buy 1000MW from the southern region. Tamil Nadu - Karnataka's only hope - is banned from selling power outside the state. Sources said Tamil Nadu is unlikely to heed Karnataka's request, considering its blow-hot-blow-cold ties with the state, primarily over sharing of Cauvery river water.

The prevailing drought in the state has depleted the combined water storage in three major hydel reservoirs - Linganamakki, Mani and Supa.

Though the state has a combined installed capacity of 10,189MW from conventional resources like hydel and thermal stations, generation is around 6,600-7,300MW due to lower hydro output and breakdown in state and central power generating units.

"The water levels at all major hydroelectric reservoirs of Karnataka are nearing the danger mark. Last week, the storage level at major dams was around 47%, but was closing down to 45%. If there is no rain in the next two weeks and the level dips under 40%, only god can save Karnataka,'' a senior energy department official said.

This apart, thermal plants are running overtime to reduce the gap, leading to frequent snags and maintenance. Coal shortage in these plants is creating a panic situation.

"Because of the poor monsoon, water levels are low. To make up for that, thermal-based power production was increased by nearly 20%, which is beginning to show as units are breaking down due to technical snags. The thermal units of Raichur are outdated and need immediate replacements, but Karnataka cannot afford to do that at this juncture," a senior KPTC official said.

But Shivakumar was confident the situation would not go out of control, and that he would look into clearing bottlenecks to buy power from Tamil Nadu, and also ramp up production in thermal units.

“To save the environment and to fight climate change, my government has planned a major campaign. By 2022, we want to generate 175 GW of renewable energy. In the last three years, we have already achieved 60 GW or around one-third of this target,” he said.